U.S. auto recalls hit record high 53.2 million in 2016

Reuters Staff

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FILE PHOTO - Cars are seen in a parking lot in Palm Springs, California April 13, 2015. Picture taken April 13, 2015. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department said automakers recalled a record high 53.2 million vehicles in 2016 in the United States in part because of a massive expansion in callback to replace Takata Corp 7312.T air bag inflators.

Under aggressive enforcement by the Obama administration, automakers issued a record-setting 927 recall campaigns, up 7 percent over the previous high set in 2015. Last year’s recall of 53.2 million total vehicles topped the previous all time high of 51.1 million set in 2015, the department said.